As we approach the height of Carnival season -- a time when hundreds will be looking for a ride -- some taxi cab drivers are trying to shut down their rivals at Uber and taking legal action to do so.

In the Lower Garden District, Monroe Coleman has operated his business "Coleman Cabs" for more than 50 years. He's been an outspoken critic of Uber and supports a move by some of his drivers to get rid of Uber drivers.

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"We want to cut off the toes so we can bring Goliath down his knees and we can cut off the head. We are not giving up (and) saving our industry," Coleman said.

Coleman supports the petition filed in Orleans Parish Civil Court last week. Thirty taxi cab drivers who work for almost all major cab operators in the city have come together filing the petition against individual Uber drivers.

Two of the drivers on the petition work for Coleman.

"This is the best way to go after Uber, the way they've come after us," Coleman said.

The motion says the Uber drivers listed as defendants are violating fair trade practices by not having valid Class D chauffeur licenses. Cab drivers must have those to operate.

Coleman's son Jason said the cab drivers are asking a civil judge to shut down the Uber drivers on one of the busiest transportation weeks of the year.

"They're saying enough is enough. We are going to fight the Uber X drivers and let them know they are violating the law," Jason Coleman said.

Former taxi cab bureau chief Malachi Hull said the legal action is a first of its kind.

"You knew once they were backed into a corner they'd come out fighting. It's pretty unique, pretty smart because now the Uber X drivers -- the ones without chauffeur's licenses -- they're gonna be the ones incurring expenses because they''ll have to go out and hire attorneys," Hull said.

A hearing is scheduled Friday before Civil Court Judge Piper Griffin.

"After more than a year of careful, thorough debate, the City of New Orleans passed into law a modern regulatory framework for ridesharing," said Uber spokesman Bill Gibbons. "Uber is proud to serve the people of New Orleans with safe, reliable transportation options and access to flexible work opportunities under this ordinance."